Plans submitted to turn historic Paisley 'eyesore' building into student flats

Detailed plans have been submitted to transform an iconic Paisley building into student accommodation.

A CGI of the new look for the building, which housed a former TA drill hall and was designed by Thomas Graham Abercrombie.

JR Group said it had submitted a planning application to Renfrewshire Council to transform the former TA building on the town’s High Street.

The Paisley-based construction firm is looking to provide “state of the art” student accommodation for the nearby University of the West of Scotland while bringing the category B listed building – which was built in 1896 – back to life. It has been subject to vandals and firebugs in recent years.

Should planning be granted by the council, the renovation and construction work is expected to kick off in early 2021 for completion within 18-24 months.

Many regard the renovation of the building as the final stage in the rejuvenation of Paisley’s High Street, with the adjacent museum and art gallery and Coats Memorial Church both subject to their own makeover plans.

Andrew Dallas, project director for JR Group, said: “From our discussions with the public and the university, it is clear everyone is keen to see [this building] redeveloped and brought back to life.

“We are a Paisley-based firm so it means a little bit more to be able to bring forward our proposals that will transform what has been an eyesore for the city for more than 20 years.

“We will now work with Renfrewshire Council in efforts to take these plans forward and are confident, if plans were to be approved, of reinvigorating a key part of Paisley’s history and ensuring its future for many years to come.”

The former TA drill hall was originally built in 1896 and was designed by Paisley architect Thomas Graham Abercrombie.

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